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General discussion

So, what *will* save the movie theater industry?

Mar 14, 2006 3:59AM PST

Launching off of the discussion from Monday's podcast about movie theaters, I thought I'd start this thread. Please post and say what it is that brings you to the theater. What would make you go to more movies in theaters? What do you hate about the theater experience, and why do you not do it more often? You can also share about cool theaters that have a sort of different model that you've been to, like the one Molly talked about that has couches and serves beer and pizza.

I'll start: I go to the movies for two reasons -- I really want to see a certain movie and can't wait till it comes out on DVD, and/or my kids really want to see it. My 8 year old is a movie freak. IMDB is literally his favorite website, he's on there all the time. He can tell you the release date for most movies, as well as when they come out on DVD, which movies the actors in a certain film also starred in, etc. Since this is sort of his obsession, my husband and I have been trading off going to movies with him that we probably wouldn't otherwise pay to see -- if just one of us goes with just him, the cost isn't that high, and we find his brother often doesn't care if he misses out -- we take him out to lunch every now and then instead -- he's a bottomless pit teenager, he'd rather eat than watch a movie most times.

What I hate about movies is mostly the prices. And the captive audience high prices at the concessions. I will bring in snacks hidden in my purse -- some theaters actually search your bags. I won't go to theaters that do that, I think it's insulting.

There is a low-priced theater near us that gets a lot of our business. Kids are $4.50 at all times. Matinees (all shows before 5 p.m.) are $5.50 for adults. I go there instead of the mall. It's not as big, but it also doesn't kill your bank account as much.

I'd love to hear what other people think.

Discussion is locked

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No cell phones
Mar 14, 2006 4:39AM PST

A no-tolerance policy for cell phones at a theater and no seat saving for a groups who aren't even at the theater yet. I just think people just are turned off by the rudeness of others. I know it is a problem in society as a whole as well, but people go to the movies to escape the world for a little bit and you really can't do that with cell phones ringing.

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There are a lot of things that can be done
Mar 14, 2006 4:51AM PST

I, for one, love the movie going experience, though I don't do a lot of it because I have to share it with others. It seems like a lot of people feel like they're in their living room, so they can just chat away and explain scenes, translate sometimes (though I can't really fault that as much), or just make loud comments they think are funny. The unwanted secondary soundtrack ruins it, which is why I sometimes opt to pay a lot more to go see a movie at an upscale theater, like the Arclight in Hollywood or the Cinema de Lux over by LAX (wide leather seats in the director's halls, all numbered). Of course, that limits the number movies I'd pay to go see, but that decision is made much easier when there are so many remakes of older films.

At home, though the sound and picture are really nice, I lose a little bit of the spectacle of seeing a movie, because I can pause it at any time, go to the bathroom, check email, answer the phone, etc. There are higher stakes when I go to a bona fide theater, so I have to draw the line based on the type of crowd I would see the movie with.

One more thing: I just don't get it when people sense the end of the movie is coming, so they leave a little early. What's up with that?

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Big Production Movies
Mar 14, 2006 4:57AM PST

There is something about the experience watching a blockbuster, such as the Star Wars movies, Lord of the Rings, and even Titanic. You just can't replicate that experience at home unless you are very rich. Even a projector can't capture all of the visual and auditory sensations you get.

Plus, I still like watching film. I miss the old films in school that were from the 50's and 60's and they still showed in the 80's because most schools did not have vcr's on a large scale until the 90's.

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One of two things: Low prices, or very high prices
Mar 14, 2006 6:32AM PST

I'd like to see movie theaters do one of two things:

- Put the ticket prices very high, so as to price-out the kind of people who make movie going so unpleasent.


- Lower prices so that its not such a big deal that the movie going experience isn't all that great.

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Only Poor People are Rude???
Mar 14, 2006 11:15AM PST

You're kidding right? You think only poor people are rude or something? Man, *that's* rude. Trust me when I say rudeness is one of the very few equalities in this world.

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99.9% of the people I see disrupting movie theaters...
Mar 14, 2006 12:32PM PST

...are clearly lower-class citizens. Price them out, problem solved.


Maybe thats mostly contained to CT, but thats been my experience.

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and they're the ones with cell phones, right?
Mar 14, 2006 12:54PM PST

I agree with pkscout, it's not only poor people who are rude.

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Rudeness has its ceiling
Mar 14, 2006 1:07PM PST

I think the point is that the people who are consistently rude in movie theaters are probably not the type to waste $11 to $15 on a movie - they simply don't care about the experience that much. It has nothing to do with how much money you have; It has everything to do with how one values seeing movies in a theater.

At the Arclight in Hollywood (http://www.arclightcinemas.com), for example, it's quiet and respectful. People have conversations before the movie but are quiet during it. At the Universal 18 up on the hill in CityWalk, in my experience it's noisy and phones are always going off during a movie. There's no real cultural or economic boundary separating the two - it actually costs more to park up at CityWalk. The people at Arclight are just more serious about presenting an upscale experience, often hosting special events.

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agreed
Mar 14, 2006 1:25PM PST

If you make the moviegoing experiance a nice one, people won't disrupt it with their phones and chatter.

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Lower-class citizens
Mar 14, 2006 1:22PM PST

Careful bucky. That's my ethnicity.

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That is Just WRONG
Mar 14, 2006 9:33PM PST

Dude, you live in a small little world if you think that poor people are the cause of your problems. Maybe if we just priced housing, education, and food out of poor people's reach they would have to move out of the country... <rollseyes>

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(NT) (NT) Because movies are as important as food and shelter....
Mar 15, 2006 2:07AM PST
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Know what continues to kill it?
Mar 14, 2006 10:36AM PST

Here are two news items - courtesy of E! Online - that definitely sound worse than snakes on a plane.

#1 - Move over, Debbie. Producers want J.Lo to do Dallas. Jennifer Lopez is being wooed for the role of Sue Ellen Ewing, Luke Wilson for Bobby Ewing, Shirley MacLaine for Miss Ellie Ewing and John Travolta for J.R. in the big-screen redo of the megahit '80s prime-time sudser. Robert Luketic directs the flick, chronicling the exploits of the wealthy Texas oil family, including their shady business dealings and dysfunctional personal lives. Shooting starts this fall.


#2 - Welcome Back, Kotter--again. Ice Cube has signed on to star in and produce a film adaptation of the classic jive-talking '70s TV series. Cube plays slacker turned teacher Gabe Kotter, who returns to his inner-city alma mater to a new generation of ne'er-do-wells known as the Sweathogs. Cameras roll this fall.

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What will save the movie industry?
Mar 14, 2006 10:55AM PST

I feel that movies these days are too ramdom, there is no plot to most films and most movies follow the same sequence: everything was fine, then a problem, then problem solved. Evey movie that is coming out has the same pattern?C?@?s?????

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I don't go to the movies anymore
Mar 14, 2006 11:26AM PST

What it is that brings you to the theater?

Friends. Going to the movies is partly a social activity, but it is only worth going if there is a good movie to see. Think about it. When was the last time you went to see a crappy movie by yourself?

What would make you go to more movies in theaters?

Better movies (maybe). I love watching movies in my home or at a friends home. Seriously - my 60 inch HDTV and surround sound is good enough for me.

What do you hate about the theater experience, and why do you not do it more often?

High ticket prices, strangers talking, people answering cell phones, people not answering ringing cell phones, children behaving badly, adults behaving like children, etc.

Studio Movie Grill - Addison
5405 Belt Line Rd
Dallas, TX 75254
http://www.studiomoviegrill.com/

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great link!
Mar 14, 2006 1:00PM PST

I hope others will share links to local theaters in their areas that are different.

For those of you who are interested, click on the link in the above post and look for "how it works" in the menu bar -- it explains how they do things, with pictures of the theater. Sounds great!

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BOL Mentioned Brewvies
Mar 14, 2006 1:47PM PST

I pass Brewvies in Salt Lake almost every day of the week and while the concept is great, their advertising makes the place seem nosier than a regular theater. A tv commercial a few years back showed a guy pigging out on nachos and guzzling down beer and the noises were clearly heard by others. Places such as Singapore can get away with luxury theater since the can probably cane you if you are too loud.

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Cinema Cafe
Mar 14, 2006 1:59PM PST

Here is one that is in the Virginia Beach area. I used to go here all the time. Back then, they didn't show first-run movies, but now that they've expanded to 4 locations, they also run the new movies too.

http://www.cinema-cafe.com/

This is the way the "movie experience" should be, in my opinion.

-Terry

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Agreed!
Mar 14, 2006 2:07PM PST

I live in Norfolk and hit up Cinema Cafe all the time. I'm so spoiled. I don't even want to see a movie at a "normal" theater anymore.

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I miss it, that's for sure
Mar 14, 2006 2:36PM PST

Being up here in Charlottesville, I long for Cinema Cafe. Maybe I should open one up here! Happy

-Terry

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So I saw a movie today ...
Mar 15, 2006 9:03AM PST

I know I said that I never go to the movies, but today I actually went out to see the new Pink Panther movie. I went to an AMC cineplex in Arizona. For the record - I now remember why I hate going to the movies.

Between the kid belching in the row behind me, people whispering to each other, and then a "C" rate movie - I should have followed my own advice.

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With A Setup Like This, Who Needs A Theater???!!!!
Mar 14, 2006 2:22PM PST
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Ohhhhhh
Mar 14, 2006 2:27PM PST

That's like porn for geeks....

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(NT) (NT) *Drooooooooooooooooool*
Mar 14, 2006 2:38PM PST
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A little bit oldish don't y'all think?
Mar 14, 2006 9:47PM PST

I feel that the gold and red and white is causing a bad contrast in the room. Although thats just me.

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The Drive In
Mar 14, 2006 2:33PM PST

I for one love going to the movies, but like others, ABSOLUTELY HATE having to sit with other people that I don't know. I mean, if they didn't put their feet on the back of my chair, if they didn't talk during the movie, if they'd all just get in there, sit down and shut their traps, it would be a lot better.

Another thing that I absolutely despise is when I go to the movies with a friend I haven't ever been with and I find out that they're a talker. They want to tell me about every little scene! GRRR, that makes me angry!

We go to the drive-in around here, there is one nearby that is still going and doesn't look to be closing down anytime soon. They are awesome. I like being able to sit in the car, with people that I know who won't talk during the movie!

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another idea...
Mar 14, 2006 9:52PM PST

How about a rent a drive in theater but you can't drive your own car, you are forced to park your car in the parking lot then go into the drive in and sit in one of those untra cool convertables with an audio imput so that you can watch the move, not only in surround sound, but also in a car with really comfy chairs.

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AWESOME!
Mar 14, 2006 10:18PM PST

It could only be improved by a Sonic Drive In Like ordering system BUT have it all be touch screened and de-duct the money from your online account so you don't have to have the money with you and you don't have to talk to anyone! AWESOME!

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Two Things...
Mar 17, 2006 3:28AM PST

Serve alcohol and raise prices.

The open bar eliminates the pre-21 crowd. This includes the seat-kickers, a lot of the cell phone yackers, and crying babies.

Higher prices ensures that only people who are willing to pay dearly for a pleasant experience are present. If someone is concerned about their own experience, they are automatically respectful of others' experiences also.

Although, the presence of alcohol could neutralize the presumed effect of higher pricing.

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It's SO simple
Mar 17, 2006 3:50AM PST

First of all, I don't think movie theaters are in danger of dying. Yes home theaters rock, especially when 1920 x 1080 content delivery becomes available this year.

So Movie theaters need to up the ante. They need 4K digital projectors and they need to give us movies, IMAX style on MASSIVE SCREENS with amazing, knock-you-on-your-**** sound systems to truly immerse you in the scene.

Right now, IMAX theaters and the like are few and far between. The googleplexes with ten dozen tiny screens have taken over. They will die, Die DIE. muhaaa ha ha ha, And they very much deserve to die.

They simply need to bring back the true theater experience. Big, amazing, powerful. That's all.

-Kevin S.